Desert Mountain Energy Provides Update On The Arizona Projects And Closing On The Initial New Mexico Project
TSX.V: DME
U.S. OTC: DMEHF
Frankfurt: QM01
VANCOUVER, BC, July 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - DESERT MOUNTAIN ENERGY CORP. (the "Company") (TSXV: DME) (U.S. OTC: DMEHF) (Frankfurt: QM01) From the President of the Company. The Company is pleased to announce that it has closed on the purchase of the West Pecos Slope Abo Gas Field and gas gathering system located in Chaves County, New Mexico. The Company has assumed operations and the revenue stream from the existing wells. The Company secured a contract for the near term to rent a compressor to boost natural gas sales during line pigging and plan for increasing gas flows. That compressor was hooked in and was online compressing gas into the sales line on 07/01/23.
Since the commissioning of the McCauley Helium Processing Facility in January 2023, the Company has been working diligently towards declaring commercial production of Helium from the plant. However, despite lengthy engagement with the Arizona regulatory authorities, the Company has become frustrated with repeated delays and long lead times associated with enhanced recovery permitting. At this point in time, the Board and Management have come to a decision to take advantage of the inherent flexibility of their proprietary plant design and will move the McCauley Processing Facility to its newly acquired West Pecos Abo Gas Field in New Mexico.
"The Company's strong financial position coupled with our robust modular design make this agile move possible," states CEO Robert Rohlfing. "Moving the plant to the West Pecos Slope Abo Gas field allows us to produce helium and condensates near term. Where most plants are designed to meet only the specific needs of a given area and subsequently, their inherent fixed design preclude moves of this nature."
Current estimates for relocation of the plant are between 8-12 weeks, including reassembly and hookup. The primary permitted compressor location has the required air quality permits in place, sufficient for all intended operations. The Company is moving ahead with finalizing plans to pig flow lines to lower flow gathering system line pressures and will then begin removing the most critical choke points.
As stated in the previous press release on 06/19/23, the geologic team is evaluating initial wells for optimization to maximize helium production. DME's goal is to target where independent gas analysis tests show helium values above 0.700% or where combined with low nitrogen, high condensate values and high BTU ratings. The Company has not independently verified the gas analysis provided by the seller. Those gas analysis tests are required to be conducted by an independent third-party testing laboratory on a yearly basis, this is done to ensure proper payments are made to the mineral and well owners by the gas purchasing company. DME will be conducting their own independent tests on all producing wells in accordance with rules and regulations. The Company anticipates initial helium production to average 0.50% until well workovers and optimization as previously described, have been completed. DME's modular plant design can operate in a wide and fluctuating helium percentage environment. Under current contracts, the Company will not be due to pay royalties on any inert gases recovered through plant operations. The condensate and BTU values vary widely depending on location within the field and proximity to the compressor facility. Initially, The Company intends to maintain significant cash on hand through the judicious use of minimal funds and will use cash flow to complete ongoing scheduled work.
The Company's workover rig will be moved to the West Pecos Abo Gas Field. Discussions have begun with a local company to generate revenue when not being utilized by DME for well work. In this area, it is not uncommon to have a 6-9 week wait period to schedule a workover rig. The Company's strong financial position resulted in the ability to acquire a dedicated rig significantly below market, which allows quality and timely work to be completed in the best interest of all shareholders of the Company.
At this point in time, all planned drilling operations in the Holbrook Basin will halt and the Company will continue to work with the Arizona regulatory authorities as they modify and develop the state regulations specific to the helium industry. The Company will maintain their leases and wells in good standing and plans to re-enter the state with a new second facility once assurances and permits have been granted. While the order of production has shifted from Arizona to New Mexico, the capital raised in Q1 this year was already earmarked for a second facility (among other uses), and as such the overall development plan for Desert Mountain Energy has not altered in a meaningful way to the one that was previously set out to shareholders. In the meantime, the Company has already been contacted by a local power provider in NE Arizona, who will seek to tie the existing solar facility at the McCauley Plant site into the local grid until it is needed for the second facility.
Desert Mountain Energy Corp. is a publicly traded resource company primarily focused on exploration, development and production of helium, hydrogen and noble gases. The Company is primarily looking for elements deemed critical to the renewable energy and high technology industries.
We seek safe harbor.
"Robert Rohlfing"
Robert Rohlfing
Exec Chairman & CEO
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The statements made in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations.
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding the Company's anticipated performance in the future the planned exploration activities, receipt of positive results from drilling, the completion of further drilling and exploration work, and the timing and results of various activities.
Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and the United States; financial risks due to helium prices, operating or technical difficulties in exploration and development activities; risks and hazards and the speculative nature of resource exploration and related development; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company's title to properties.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the continued operation of the Company's exploration operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company does not intend to, and nor does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
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SOURCE Desert Mountain Energy Corp.
